Teen to hike 300 miles for nature

Thursday

Feb 9, 2017 at 6:29 PMFeb 9, 2017 at 6:59 PM

The 2016 Eastside High School graduate is packing his Vasque hiking boots — the same kind he wore during his 500-mile hike in Spain — trekking poles, tent and trail maps and will leave Gainesville on Sunday to take the scenic route to Tallahassee, hoping to raise awareness for Florida’s natural treasures.

Deborah Strange @DeborahJStrange

Oscar Psychas’ 300-mile walk to Tallahassee this month should be fairly straightforward.

“Backpacking is a pretty simple thing,” he said. “You put one foot in front of the other and set up camp.”

The 2016 Eastside High School graduate is packing his Vasque hiking boots — the same kind he wore during his 500-mile hike in Spain — trekking poles, tent and trail maps and will leave Gainesville on Sunday to take the scenic route to Tallahassee, hoping to raise awareness for Florida’s natural treasures along the way.

“I think we could do something future generations would thank us for,” he said.

Psychas lived in sprawling West African cities for 11 years growing up, and when he returned to lush Florida, he said, “I really didn’t take it for granted.”

He enjoys camping, spending time at Florida’s springs, taking in the nature he hopes legislators will fund to protect.

He’s disappointed that more money hasn’t been put in the Florida Forever conservation program since its creation in 2001. Florida's Environmental Protection Department says it has spent $2.9 billion to purchase 700,000 acres of land.

Psychas plans to arrive in Tallahassee in time for the legislative session to begin March 7.

Effective conservation, he said, is “just a matter of political will.”

A lack of conservation efforts, Psychas said, “economically can be a disaster.”

“Florida would lose its brand of a beautiful, lush place,” he said.

On his 23-day hike to the capital, he plans to meet up with friends, supporters, journalists and fellow nature lovers. He raised $1,450 on Go Fund Me to fund his hiking equipment and to start a postcard campaign, in which people can make postcards featuring their favorite nature scenes to raise conservation awareness.

People can follow his progress on Facebook at Walk for Wild Florida or on Twitter, @WalkForWildFL.

In planning the hike, Psychas has already met plenty of people who share his love for Florida’s natural beauty. He knows he’s not alone in wanting to protect the state for generations to come.

“I’m speaking on behalf of a lot of people,” he said.

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